Marcus Smith imitates his “Grumpy” frown, as pictured in this embroidered picture made by Grace Stone.
Since the 1960’s, Marcus “Grumpy” Smith has been donning his clown make-up (It takes four hours to apply.), putting on his big clown shoes (They cost as much as some custom made cowboy boots.), and performing at the Shrine Circus and other events benefiting sick and injured children and the Shriners hospitals that treat them. “Some of the kids who are too ill or with severe burns, cannot smile,” says Grumpy, “but you can see the sparkle in their eyes.”
Marcus Smith as “Grumpy”
And that sparkle is what keeps him going. Even though some physical problems have slowed him down in the past few years, Marcus still manages to perform at the Shrine Circus and play bean bag baseball, jacks, paper dolls, and other games with the kids at the annual Children’s Day, which sees 1,200 to 1,500 attendees from the different hospitals.
During the circus, which is held in Rosenberg, he “works” out in the audience before the show and signs autographs in the coloring books that are given to the hospital patients and sold to other attendees. All funds raised are used to support the Shriners hospitals, including the Shriners Burns Hospital in Galveston, Scottish Rite Orthopedic Hospital in Dallas, and York Rite Mason Facility, which is dedicated to eye injuries and diseases.
Marcus explained that their are five types of Shrine clowns: White Face (aristocrat), Auguste (flesh colored), Happy Hobo, Character (nothing in the make-up and costume coordinates), and Tramp (never smiles or talks). And every clown has a name. As Grumpy the Tramp, Marcus has won first place in his division, five years running at the Texas Shrine Clown Convention.
You may not be aware that famous people throughout the years were Shriners Clowns. Marcus noted several: Harry Truman, Gene Autry, Red Skelton, Roy Rogers, Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas, Jack Benny, Douglas MacArthur, and perhaps the most famous clown, Emmett Kelley.
Marcus was very pleased to receive the framed embroidered likeness of “Grumpy” made by Grace Stone and presented to him at a recent Senior Citizen’s Luncheon in Port O’Connor.
